| The "Portrait of a Bearded Man", dated 1533, conveys tense energy. Determinedly clutching his dagger, this man has earned the painting the title Cavaliere Attaccabrighe (Sir Quarrelsome) on account of his self-confident, almost provocative, pose and the way he challenges the viewer with his gaze. Yet he does not grasp his dagger for aggressive reasons: his action should be regarded rather as a symbol of vigilance and readiness to fight. In this context, the action is a convention in terms of pose and movement. For the background to his painting, Bordone chose a semi-circular niche, a popular motif in Italian art. In reality, such a niche usually contained a sculpture; here, the sitter is equated with a statue in a way that lends his portrait a noble quality. Moreover, a niche is also highly effective as a three-dimensional feature, as Vasari had already pointed out. The lighting has an almost dramatic quality that drives the man’s face out of the darkness, a device used by Bordone to accentuate the momentary nature of the painting. The silky sheen of his outer garment looks particularly striking against the background that partly recedes into darkness. |
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